WESTLAND EDUCATION DISTRICT SUB-DIVISION BILL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2548, 3 November 1884, Page 3

WESTLAND EDUCATION DISTRICT SUB-DIVISION BILL.

The parliamentary correspondent of the Star, telegraphing on Thursday last, thus reports the opposition shown by Messrs Guinness and Menteath to this Bill : The "Westland Education District Sub-division Bill was introduced into Committee at midnight. Messrs Guinness and Menteath fought hard to get the former Act repealed and the district formed again into one. Every possible device was used by Mr Guinness and his friend; the most frivolous amendments were proposed; divisions were called for on every pretext, the movers always being in a most hopeless minority. The forms of the House were used in every way by counting out the House whenever the opportunity arose through members going out to escape Mr Guinness's infliction. It finally resulted in the Premier threatening that if such factious opposition to the Bill was persisted in, the Government would not advance any more money on behalf of educational matters in Westland, because the moneys so advanced at present were not legalised. He also informed the House that he had most carefully looked into the whole affair and declared that the management of the late Board had been simply disgraceful, and that it would take fully £SOOO to pay existing debts. Messrs Guinness and Menteath took up much time in trying to block the bill. These two gentlemen walked out of the House several times so as to leave no quorum, which conduct was on each occasion happily frustrated. Their popularity is in no way increased by such obstinate and unseemly proceedings. The bill passed through Committee.